News from around the state of Florida
Featured image for “FAMU’s interim president calls on senior leaders to resign”
August 14, 2024

FAMU’s interim president calls on senior leaders to resign

After holding the position for only a week, Interim President Timothy Beard said a change in leadership is necessary to…

Featured image for “Next tropical system forecast to turn away from Florida”
August 12, 2024

Next tropical system forecast to turn away from Florida

Potential Hurricane Ernesto is taking a similar track to Debby, but it is expected to turn to the north and…

Featured image for “In Debby’s wake, heat and floodwaters remain a concern”
August 9, 2024

In Debby’s wake, heat and floodwaters remain a concern

As people begin the cleanup process this weekend, high temperatures and humidity will make efforts more difficult.…

Featured image for “Migrant farmworkers left vulnerable in disasters”
A couple of farmworkers walk home in Immokalee after Hurricane Irma struck the small town in 2017. | Andrea Melendez, WGCU
August 9, 2024

Migrant farmworkers left vulnerable in disasters

Language barriers and immigration status are major hurdles to seeking emergency relief when natural disasters strike.…

Featured image for “Teachers unions target Florida’s pronoun law”
August 6, 2024

Teachers unions target Florida’s pronoun law

The unions are fighting a law that requires educators to use pronouns that align with their sex assigned at birth.…

Featured image for “What’s next as Tropical Storm Debby creeps out of Florida?”
August 5, 2024

What’s next as Tropical Storm Debby creeps out of Florida?

Jacksonville could still receive 8 to 10 inches of rain as Debby moves up the Southeast coast.…

Featured image for “More Floridians are giving up their landlines”
August 5, 2024

More Floridians are giving up their landlines

The number of the landlines in Florida dropped 17.7% from 2022 to 2023, according to a new report by the…

Featured image for “Hurricane Debby makes landfall; Jax expects deluge”
August 5, 2024

Hurricane Debby makes landfall; Jax expects deluge

Hurricane Debby came ashore Monday morning in the Big Bend area of Florida and was expected to creep across the…

Featured image for “Tropical system is nearly certain to develop”
August 2, 2024

Tropical system is nearly certain to develop

Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency in Northeast Florida and across much of the state.…

Featured image for “Debby to bring heavy rain, risk of tornadoes, strong winds Monday”
August 1, 2024

Debby to bring heavy rain, risk of tornadoes, strong winds Monday

The tropical wave, labeled Invest 97L, is likely to develop over the next seven days.…

Featured image for “More locations open to private and charter schools”
Primer has 16 microschools in South Florida with three more to launch this year in Miami Shores as a result of HB1285. | Primer
August 1, 2024

More locations open to private and charter schools

Schools can now open in libraries, museums, theaters, cinemas, arts venues and others regardless of zoning rules.…

Featured image for “Federal judge permanently blocks part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’”
Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the crowd before publicly signing HB7, dubbed the "Stop WOKE" bill, during a news conference at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School in Hialeah Gardens on April 22, 2022. | Daaniel A. Varela, Miami Herald
July 29, 2024

Federal judge permanently blocks part of ‘Stop WOKE Act’

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker granted a permanent injunction against a part of the law that restricted workplace training.…

Featured image for “Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement”
The Florida Supreme Court.
July 26, 2024

Florida Supreme Court asked to reject abortion statement

Floridians Protecting Freedom contends a statement that will appear on the ballot with Amendment 4 is inaccurate and political.…

Featured image for “Back-to-school sales tax ‘holiday’ starts Monday”
July 26, 2024

Back-to-school sales tax ‘holiday’ starts Monday

Floridians can save on clothes, school supplies, computers and more beginning Monday.…

Featured image for “NIL deals approved for high school athletes”
Andrew Jackson's TayVion Lawson finishes beyond the outstretched arm of Raines' forward Zion Kemp during the 2024 Gateway Conference boys basketball tournament final on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Lawson and the Tigers won 57-48. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 25, 2024

NIL deals approved for high school athletes

The Florida Board of Education allowed high school athletes to make money through endorsements and other kinds of deals.…

Featured image for “Here are the new rules on kids and social media”
Lawmakers did not identify which social media companies are affected by a ban for young children.
July 23, 2024

Here are the new rules on kids and social media

The state has published details about how it will carry out a new law aimed at keeping young children off…

Featured image for “Florida has $18.9 million to spend on homeless students”
A homeless camp is shown in Immokalee. | Andrea Melendez, WGCU
July 22, 2024

Florida has $18.9 million to spend on homeless students

States have until Sept. 30 to use money distributed through the American Rescue Plan.…

Featured image for “UF president suddenly resigns, citing wife’s health”
University of Florida President Ben Sasse fist-bumps kids during UF's Homecoming Parade in Gainesville in 2023. | Ashleigh Lucas, WUFT News)
July 19, 2024

UF president suddenly resigns, citing wife’s health

University of Florida President Ben Sasse will leave his job July 31, 17 months after taking the position.…

Featured image for “DeSantis’ veto of beach bill roils environmentalists”
One of the results of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto of the Clean Beaches Act is no additional help from the Florida Department of Health in terms of improved water quality testing or beach closure signage, even in case of fecal pollution or a blue-green algae or red tide outbreak like the one in 2018 that killed this goliath grouper and tens of thousands more fish that washed up on Southwest Florida's beaches. | Captains for Clean Water, WGCU
July 19, 2024

DeSantis’ veto of beach bill roils environmentalists

Supporters said the bill would have protected the health of beachgoers. The Legislature approved the bill unanimously.…

Featured image for “Florida Tropical Training Week: Get prepared with the pros”
July 19, 2024

Florida Tropical Training Week: Get prepared with the pros

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service will prepare workshop participants for the most active weeks of this hurricane season.…

Featured image for “Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot”
Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, says it’s tough to speculate about potential litigation costs related to the passage of the abortion rights constitutional proposal. | The Florida Channel
July 17, 2024

Abortion rights supporters allege ‘dirty trick’ on ballot

Supporters of Amendment 4 say a statement on the ballot will mislead voters about the proposed constitutional amendment.…

Featured image for “FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down”
Larry Robinson has served as president of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee for seven years. He announced Friday, July 13, 2024, that he will be stepping down. | Florida A&^M University
July 15, 2024

FAMU President Larry Robinson is stepping down

After taking a yearlong sabbatical, Robinson plans to return to serving as a professor in FAMU’s School of the Environment…

Featured image for “Redistricting challenge ends in North Florida”
July 12, 2024

Redistricting challenge ends in North Florida

A federal court ruled that the reconfiguration of Congressional District 5 was not racially motivated.…

Featured image for “Tropical disturbance brews east of Florida”
July 12, 2024

Tropical disturbance brews east of Florida

The disturbance has a low chance of developing, but rain and thunderstorms are likely in the Southeast.…